Teachers in a cash-strapped US school district are entitled to free plastic
surgery under the terms of their health insurance policies.

Among the procedures which have been carried out at taxpayers' expense on teachers in Buffalo, New York, in recent years are nose jobs, liposuction, breast implants and Botox injections.

Last year, the town's 3,400 teachers spent $5.9 million (£3.74 million) of public money on enhancing their appearance, at a time when the school district is forecast to run a $42 million (£27 million) deficit.

The free treatment for public servants in Buffalo including police officers and firefighters began in the 1970s, as a way of covering the costs of caring for burn and gunshot victims at a time when plastic surgery was relatively uncommon.

By 2004, the bill had reached $1 million (£634,000), peaking at $9 million (£5.7 million) in 2009. Nine out of 10 procedures are now skin treatments such as Botox, and 100 per cent are described as elective, and therefore medically unnecessary.

Union officials say that teachers are willing to surrender the perk, but only as part of more a general renegotiation of their contracts.

Related Articles

As contract talks have dragged on for years, it appears that the free surgery will continue.

Second grade teacher Linda Tokarz said that she received frequent treatments under the terms of her health insurance policy.

"I think it's great for us," she added. "I wouldn't want to see it taken away."

Dr Kulwant S Bhangoo, a plastic surgeon in the town, told CNN that three out of 10 of his patients were teachers.

"I feel the teachers have paid their dues and it would be wrong to take it away from them," he said.

Dr Bhangoo is among a number of plastic surgeons who advertise in the teachers' trade union newsletter.

Philip Rumore, president of the union, said, "We've told the district from the beginning of negotiations six or eight years ago that we're willing to give it up, so as long the district comes back to the table with us, it's gone."